The Ultimate Percy Jackson Day in Los Angeles

Southern California demigods, your quest awaits! In anticipation of this week's premiere of Percy Jackson and The Olympians season 2, I spent an adventure-filled day searching for the entrance to the Underworld (and made a few stops along the way). For those of us who can't make the trek to Long Island to visit Camp Half-Blood, keep reading to learn how to have your own mythical day on the West Coast.

Start Your Day at The Getty Villa for a Scavenger Hunt

To truly immerse yourself in the world of Percy Jackson, you must start your day at The Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades. From the moment you drive your car up the cobblestone road to the museum, you are instantly transported out of Los Angeles. With ancient Greek and Roman art at every turn and two stunning outdoor gardens, the Getty Villa is the perfect museum for even the most casual Percy Jackson fan to spend the better part of their morning. With architecture inspired by the Roman villas, breathtaking ocean views, and an outdoor amphitheater where you can sit and reflect on your experience with a cup of coffee, the Getty Villa should be a must-do on anyone's itinerary.

But like many demigods, during my visit to the museum, I was searching for something more - a way to feel connected to the stories that shaped my understanding of our world and the heroes that came before me. Thankfully, the Oracle (in the form of Disney+) heard my request and gave me a prophecy, which allowed me to embark on a quest for knowledge. This quest required me to answer eight questions related to the world of Percy Jackson, with clues represented on different pieces of artwork in the museum.

Once I successfully identified the answers, I traded my completed quest sheet for a prize pack filled with items perfect for any Olympian - a Poseidon tote bag, three golden drachma, a mini poster, and a water bottle with the emblem of my selected god (Athena).

The entire experience was truly special and wandering around the museum surrounded by so many people of all ages in their orange Camp Half-Blood shirts was a wonderful reminder to me of how widespread the love for Percy Jackson is.

If you are interested in participating in the scavenger hunt, tickets may still be available for next Saturday and Sunday (December 13th and 14th). The tickets are free on the Getty Villa's website, although there is a charge for parking at the museum.

Grab a Bite Before Witnessing a Demigod Take Down a God

After a morning filled with art and adventure, head towards Santa Monica to grab a snack fit for an Olympian - Go Greek Yogurt. This authentic yogurt bar and cafe represents Greek culture and cuisine in a delicious way. While they offer smoothies and traditional Greek yogurt in a number of flavors, my favorite is the Greek Honey Frozen Yogurt with chopped dates and pistachios on top.

After refueling, you can walk a few blocks towards the Santa Monica Pier to ride the ferris wheel, play some carnival games, and try to spot Ares on the beach nearby unsuccessfully attempting to defeat Percy. There are a number of lovely vendors and performers on the Pier and in the surrounding area, including one man who was putting on an incredible bubble show during my visit that felt perfectly magical.

Head to Hollywood to Visit the Percy Jackson Interactive Billboard

We have all seen countless billboards in our time, but the Percy Jackson team truly summoned the power of Poseidon when they created this interactive billboard to promote season 2. As the trailer for the new season plays, the billboard sprays water and fog at key moments, including one large tidal wave drop. I watched the entire thing with a giant grin on my face, as I couldn't believe I was able to experience such an immersive moment outside of a theme park or 4DX movie.

Not only is the billboard alone well worth the visit to Hollywood, but demigods also receive free packets of Liquid IV to stay hydrated during their upcoming battles. There is also a Percy Jackson and the Olympians photo op that has a special effect if you touch the trident (which I happily did)!

The staff at the billboard were all incredibly kind and shared in my excitement for season 2. The billboard will remain at the corner of Hollywood and Vine through December 10th, with daily hours from 2 PM to 8 PM.

Demigods, I hope you have your own adventure-filled quest in Los Angeles and make sure to tune in for the first two episodes of Percy Jackson and the Olympians season 2 on Disney+ this Wednesday, December 10th.